New York Assembly Bill A10242

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/26
• Refer: 2/12/26

Caption

Provides for the availability of certain records of former patients interred at state mental health hospital cemeteries.

Impact

Should A10242 be enacted, it will improve the transparency and accessibility of records associated with former patients of state mental health facilities. This aligns with efforts to honor and memorialize individuals who lived and died within these institutions. Such legislation may positively impact families by providing closure and acknowledgment for their deceased relatives, particularly in regard to their military service, if applicable. This bill underscores the importance of maintaining historical records related to mental health care and its evolution over time.

Summary

Bill A10242, introduced by M. of A. Ramos, seeks to amend the mental hygiene law to ensure the availability of burial records for individuals interred in state mental health hospital cemeteries. The key provision of the bill mandates that the Department of Mental Health and related offices provide burial records, which should include details such as the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death, and burial location, within thirty days following a patient's death. Additionally, it ensures that detailed information regarding military service and family relationships may also be made available.

Contention

While the bill generally appears to have a supportive framework aimed at transparency and historical accountability, there might be points of contention surrounding privacy concerns. Some stakeholders may worry about the implications of making such records public, particularly regarding families' privacy regarding sensitive information. There are also considerations about how the management of these records will be handled in practice, especially when a cemetery property or management is transferred to another entity, as outlined in the legislation.